OK readers and fellow bloggers I need your help! I am one of 5 finalist in the Hotel Monteleone contest to win a trip to New Orleans and stay at the Monteleone.

As you, know New Orleans is my home and my beloved Hotel Monteleone is my heart! Please click on this link Hotel Monteleone Finalist and "like" it,  that is how you vote! Thank you  so very much! I love you all dearly!

For those of you that follow me on Facebook you know I was contacted and asked to participate in a cooking show. They are looking for more people to get the show up and going!


This is the cooking show I was asked to participate in. They are looking for more people that would like a chance to be on the show. If you are interested here is the info. Contact me for more details if you need them!


CALLING ALL HOME COOKS!
It's time to fire up your burners and break out your favorite recipes!
GSN (Game Show Network) and the producers of THE GREAT FOOD TRUCK RACE, are thrilled to bring you BEAT THE CHEFS, an exciting new cooking game show that celebrates REAL people who make great food! BEAT THE CHEFS gives talented home cooks the chance to go up against some of the best chefs in the business, battle it out in the kitchen, and win a BIG CASH PRIZE!
We are scouring the nation for passionate home cooks from all walks of life. Are you a great cook despite never having been formally trained? Whether you are a chili cook-off champion, the queen of the bake sale, or just a whiz in the kitchen, now is your chance to see if your signature dish has what it takes to compete with our professional chefs! Gather up two of your family members or best friends as your sous chefs and pick the dish that you know will leave the judges begging for more!
We are looking for fun, outgoing teams of all ages. If you love to cook, have a competitive spirit, and think you have a winning dish, email us at: [email protected]. Please include your name, age, current city, contact info, photo, two proposed teammates (and their photos), description of your signature dish!

Well, I have been saying it was time, I have tried to convince myself it was time. I think it is time! I have missed blogging, the problem is that once you stop it is so difficult to find your way back. I think I'm in that place finally! Not sure how this will geaux or what direction. With the addition of Pinterest and Facebook Blogging is sort of changing. 

I am ready to embark on this journey if you are ready to geaux with me. 

Just to update you since I left you last, we have moved and settled into Gulf Shores and life as beach bunnies. 

The children The Princess now 13 and The Prince now 5 are thriving and loving life! 

We recently had the opportunity of a lifetime to play with two

White Bengal Tiger Cubs

The Princess attended Sailing Camp

And we had the chance to spend some time with Liz (and her family) from 

The History Channel's

Swamp People

 VBS and Youth Week, our Summer has been BUSY so far.

We have, of course, managed to squeeze a little of this in though

Well, see y'all tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

It has been so very long since last I posted. I have missed all of you so. I seem to be doing a better job posting on the facebook page so be sure you are following us there as well.


Thoughts of a Bama Belle

There you will of course see many pictures of the things we are up to as well as products we HIGHLY recommend! Thanks for reading and don't give up on me.Ii am finding my way back to blogland. In the meantime check out some of our fave  Halloween ideas here

There will be some new ones coming!!!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

Pirate Tales of Tablescape Thursday and Foodie Friday

It has been a long time since last I participated in Tablescape Thursday.

 It excites me that I have the opportunity to do so today.

We are sharing a Pirate Theme

my son's 4th birthday to be exact

The place settings are decked out with gold chargers covered in jewels.

Place cards and all the "effects" of a pirate

Treasure Chest cupcakes are bursting with Pirate loot

No Pirate party is complete without a Pirate ship cake

Pirate's Gold (cheese balls)

Cannon Balls (Whoppers)

Fountain of Youth Punch

Lollipops handmade from chocolate

Thanks for letting me share this post for

 Tablescape Thursday and Foodie Friday!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

Salsa recipe contest!

Be sure you start sending your recipes in! We will have our fans vote on their fave.

See our Facebook Page for all the photos and recipe vote tallies!

Thoughts of a Bama Belle

If you tweet, or link to us OR you are a fan of ours on Facebook you will earn an additional 10 votes.

 Do all three and you get an additional 30 votes!!!

The prize has not been revealed yet,

BUT you do NOT want to miss out on your chance to win it

~ trust me!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all

Foodie Friday ~ Kentucky Derby tartlets RUN FOR THE ROSES

 Welcome to Foodie Friday

We are of course celebrating

The Kentucky Derby!

So put on your best hat, polish the julep cups, and pick your favorite horse

 we are making

 Kentucky Derby Tartlets!

Semi sweet morsels

1 beaten egg

3/4 cup of brown sugar

1 TBL butter

1/4 cup bourbon ( I recommend using only about an 1/8)

1 cup chopped pecans

mini pie shells

Mix all ingredients except the morsels in a bowl. 

In each pie shell place several morsels.

Spoon pecan mixture over morsels.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes

Allow to cool and enjoy with a traditional Mint Julep.

Here is a fantastic recipe from

The Grand Hotel

in Point Clear, AL

This mint julep is named for the legendary Bucky Miller, who worked at the Grand for six decades and who was famous for his mint juleps.

The FAMOUS Bucky Miller's Mint Julep

6 fresh mint leaves

*1/8 teaspoon simple syrup

Crushed ice (never cubed Y'all)

1 3/4 ounce 80 proof bourbon (Bucky used Walker's Deluxe We use Maker's Mark)

1 sprig mint leaf, sprinkled with powdered sugar

1 maraschino cherry

Place mint leaves in a 12-ounce glass with simple syrup and small amount of crushed ice. Muddle the ingredients in bottom of glass.

Add crushed ice until half full. Then add bourbon. Continue to muddle ingredients and add ice until glass is almost full and ice is pale green.

Garnish with powdered mint leaf (sprinkle powdered sugar over dampened leaf) and a maraschino cherry.

Add beverage straw and serve.

*Simple syrup: Simple syrup is a mixture of half hot water and half sugar; dissolve sugar in hot water and cool.

Well, y'all be sure to drop by and see Gollum for more Foodie Friday recipes!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!